Medicine bag printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A medicine bag printer exhibiting excellent carrying efficiency of a medicine bag in which distributing of the medicine bags for respective patients is facilitated. The medicine bag printer comprises a print unit ( 8 ) consisting of removable medicine bag cassettes ( 22   a,    22   b ) each containing a plurality of medicine bags ( 14 ) and feeding the medicine bag ( 14 ) one by one, a print section ( 23 ) for printing medicine information and a medicine image on the medicine bag ( 14 ) being fed from the medicine bag cassette ( 22   a,    22   b ), and a tray ( 24 ) for mounting the printed medicine bag ( 14 ) discharged from the print section ( 23 ) such that the forward end of the printed medicine bag ( 14 ) projects from the tray. The medicine bag printer further comprises a section ( 40 ) for grasping the forward end part of the medicine bag ( 14 ) mounted on the tray ( 24 ) of the print unit ( 8 ), and a section ( 39 ) for carrying out the medicine bag ( 14 ) grasped at the tip end thereof by the grasping section ( 40 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a medicine bag printing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

A patient receives a medicine bag containing medicines such as tabletsand triturates prepared in accordance with a prescription. A medicinebag printing apparatus prints a name of a patient, a name of a medicine,guidance such as timing of taking the medicine and a dosage of themedicine, and the like on the medicine bag. In a conventional medicinebag printing apparatus, medicine bags different in size from each otherare produced from medicine bag base paper wound around a medicine bagroll. Then, the medicine bags thus produced are transferred to aprinter, and necessary information is printed on each medicine bag bythe printer. Thereafter, the medicine bags each subjected to theprinting process are carried out of the printer refer to, e.g.,JP2000-218873A, JP06-16343A and JP09-168578A). The medicine bags carriedout of the printer are sorted for each patient by a sorting device.

However, the conventional medicine bag printing apparatus has a problemof poor transfer efficiency because medicine bags each subjected to aprinting process are carried out of the printer one by one. In addition,in a case where the medicines each subjected to the printing process aresorted for each patient, since the medicine bags are transferred atrandom, a sort of the medicine bags for each patient becomes complicatedand control thereof also becomes complicated.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the aforementioned conventionalproblems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to providea medicine bag printing apparatus efficiently transferring medicine bagsand facilitating a sort of the medicine bags for each patient.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides amedicine bag printing apparatus configured by an apparatus main bodycomprising: a printing unit including a medicine bag cassette attachedthereto/detached therefrom, the medicine bag cassette housing aplurality of medicine bags and supplying the medicine bags one by one, aprinting part printing medicine information and an image of a medicineon the medicine bag supplied from the medicine bag cassette, and a traystoring the medicine bags each subjected to the printing process by theprinting part such that a tip end of each medicine bag protrudestherefrom; a holding section holding the tip end of the medicine bagplaced on the tray of the printing unit; and a carrying section carryingthe medicine bag, having the tip end held by the holding section, out ofthe printing unit.

Preferably, the holding section operates based on a print completionsignal indicative of completion of the printing process performed onmedicine bags for one patient by the printing part.

According to the present invention, the printing part of the printingunit sequentially performs a printing process on medicine bags for onepatient, and discharges the medicine bags onto the tray. When the traystores a plurality of medicine bags for one patient, the holding sectionholds tip ends of the medicine bags protruding from the tray, and thecarrying section carries the plurality of medicine bags out of theprinting unit at a time. Thus, transfer efficiency is improved and asort of medicine bags for each patient is readily performed.

Preferably, the printing unit is horizontally pulled out from theapparatus main body in a direction perpendicular to a dischargedirection of a medicine bag. Thus, the printing unit is pulled out fromthe apparatus main body in order to detach a medicine bag cassettetherefrom, so that fill of medicine bags into the medicine bag cassettecan be readily performed.

In this case, preferably, the printing unit is pulled out from theapparatus main body and, then, turns such that the medicine bag cassetteis attached thereto/detached therefrom. Thus, attachment/detachment of amedicine bag cassette to/from the printing unit and fill of medicinebags into the medicine bag cassette can be performed more readily.

Preferably, the medicine bag printing apparatus further comprises: aplurality of medicine bag supply units producing medicine bags differentin size from each other from medicine bag base paper wound aroundmedicine bag rolls and, then, supplying the medicine bags thus produced;a plurality of transfer sections transferring the medicine bags suppliedfrom the medicine bag supply units; a plurality of printers printingmedicine information on the medicine bags transferred by the transfersections; and a plurality of carrying sections carrying the medicinebags, each subjected to the printing process by the printers, out of theprinters. Thus, it is possible to perform a printing process efficientlyby using the plurality of printers and the printing unit.

Preferably, each of the plurality of medicine bag supply units ishorizontally pulled out from the apparatus main body, and includes alocking device locking the printing unit so as to prevent the printingunit from being pulled out from the apparatus main body when one of theplurality of medicine bag supply units is pulled out from the apparatusmain body. Thus, it is possible to prevent the apparatus main body frombeing toppled over due to concurrent pullout of the units from theapparatus main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a medicine bag printing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged front view of a holding section in a retreatposition, and

FIG. 2B is an enlarged front view of the holding section in a holdposition.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the medicine bag printing apparatus in a statethat a laser printer is pulled out therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the medicine bag printing apparatus in a statethat the laser printer is pulled out therefrom.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the medicine bag printing apparatus in a statethat the laser printer turns.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a locking device.

FIG. 7 shows one example of print on a medicine bag.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, description will be given of an embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a medicine bag printing apparatus according to thepresent invention. This medicine bag printing apparatus is configured byan apparatus main body 1 including a first medicine bag supply section2, a second medicine bag supply section 3, a third medicine bag supplysection 4, a first inkjet printer 5, a second inkjet printer 6, a thirdinkjet printer 7 and a laser printer 8. A medicine bag discharge section9 is provided at a side face of the apparatus main body 1.

The first medicine bag supply section 2, the second medicine bag supplysection 3 and the third medicine bag supply section 4 produce and supplymedicine bags different in size and kind from each other, respectively,but have a single structure. Therefore, description will be given of, asa typical example, the third medicine bag supply section 4 herein. Aplurality of medicine bag rolls 11, around which medicine bag sheets 10each previously folded in two in a longitudinal direction are wound andwhich are different in size from each other, are detachably attached tothe third medicine bag supply section 4. A medicine bag supply path 12extends from these medicine bag rolls 11, and a sealing/cutting device13 is disposed on the medicine bag supply path 12. The sealing/cuttingdevice 13 seals and cuts the medicine bag sheets 10 unreeled from themedicine bag rolls 11 at a predetermined interval to form a medicine bag14. For replacement of the medicine bag roll 11, each of the medicinebag supply sections 2, 3 and 4 can be pulled out from the apparatus mainbody 1 in a forward direction.

From the first medicine bag supply section 2, a first medicine bagtransfer path 16 extends to the first inkjet printer 5 via a firstsorting section 15 and a second medicine bag transfer path 17 extends tothe second inkjet printer 6 via the first sorting section 15. Thus,medicine bags 145 to be supplied from the first medicine bag supplysection 2 can be supplied to one of the first inkjet printer 5 and thesecond inkjet printer 6. From the second medicine bag supply section 3,a third medicine bag transfer path 19 extends to the second inkjetprinter 6 via a second sorting section 18 and a fourth medicine bagtransfer path 20 extends to the third inkjet printer 7 via the secondsorting section 18. Thus, medicine bags 14 to be supplied from thesecond medicine bag supply section 3 can be supplied to one of thesecond inkjet printer 6 and the third inkjet printer 7. From the thirdmedicine bag supply section 4, a fifth medicine bag transfer path 21extends to the second sorting section 18. Thus, medicine bags 14 to besupplied from the third medicine bag supply section 4 can be supplied toone of the second inkjet printer 6 and the third inkjet printer 7.

Each of the first inkjet printer 5, the second inkjet printer 6 and thethird inkjet printer 7 receives prescription information from a controlsection (not illustrated) and, in accordance with the prescriptioninformation, prints medicine information including a name of a patient,a name of a medicine, timing of taking the medicine, effects of themedicine, side-effects of the medicine, and the like on the medicinebags 14 supplied from each of the first medicine bag supply section 2,the second medicine bag supply section 3 and the third medicine bagsupply section 4.

The laser printer 8 corresponds to a printing unit of the presentinvention, and includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) medicinebag cassettes 22 a and 22 b, a printing part 23, and a discharge tray24. The medicine bag cassettes 22 a and 22 b are attachableto/detachable from a unit main body 25, house medicine bags 14 differentin size from each other, respectively, and supply the medicine bags 14one by one. As in the inkjet printers 5, 6 and 7, the printing part 23receives prescription information from the control section (notillustrated) and, in accordance with the prescription information,prints medicine information including a name of a patient, a name of amedicine, timing of taking the medicine, effects of the medicine,side-effects of the medicine, and the like on medicine bags 14 suppliedfrom each of the medicine bag cassettes 22 a and 22 b. Additionally, theprinting part 23 can print an image of the medicine. The discharge tray24 temporarily stores the medicine bag 14 subjected to the printingprocess by the printing part 23. The discharge tray 24 is provided witha medicine bag support pedestal 26 for supporting the medicine bag 14 insuch a manner that a tip end of the medicine bag 14 protrudes from themedicine bag support pedestal 26 in a slanting position. Herein, one ofthe medicine bag cassettes 22 a and 22 b or a paper cassette (notillustrated) houses sheets of copy paper, and supplies a sheet of copypaper to the printing part 23. The printing part 23 prints medicineinformation including a name of a patient, a name of a medicine, animage of the medicine, timing of taking the medicine, effects of themedicine, side-effects of the medicine, and the like on the sheet ofcopy paper. This sheet of copy paper subjected to the printing processis inserted into a medicine bag subjected to the printing process by theaforementioned inkjet printer.

As illustrated in the figure, the laser printer 8 is mounted on a rotarystage 28 provided on a table 27, and the table 27 can be horizontallypulled out from the apparatus main body 1 in a direction perpendicularto a discharge direction of a medicine bag 14. The table 27 is providedwith a locking device 29 for preventing the table 27 from being pulledout from the apparatus main body 1, a switch 30 for releasing a lockstate, and a sensor 31 for detecting whether or not the table 27 ispulled out from the apparatus main body 1. The locking device 29includes a locking pin 33 engaged with/disengaged from a locking hole 32provided on the table 27, and a solenoid 34 for driving the locking pin33, but is not limited to this configuration. Similarly, the medicinebag supply sections 2, 3 and 4 are provided with locking devices 29 a,29 b and 29 c each preventing pullout from the apparatus main body 1,lock release switches 30 a, 30 b and 30 c, and sensors 31 a, 31 b and 31c, respectively. These components are controlled by a control device 35as illustrated in the figure.

From the first inkjet printer 5, the second inkjet printer 6, the thirdinkjet printer 7 and the laser printer 8, a first medicine bag dischargepath 36, a second medicine bag discharge path 37, a third medicine bagdischarge path 38 and a fourth medicine bag discharge path 39 extend tothe medicine bag discharge section 9, respectively. A holding section 40of the present invention is provided on an upstream side-end of thefourth medicine bag discharge path 39. As illustrated in the figure, theholding section 40 includes a conveyor part 41 and a pressing rollerpart 42. The conveyor part 41 is arranged in the vicinity of themedicine bag support pedestal 26 of the laser printer 8 and below a tipend of a medicine bag 14 supported by the medicine bag support pedestal26. The pressing roller part 42 is provided above the conveyor part 41so as to turn about a shaft 43, and has a roller 44 at its tip end.Thus, the pressing roller part 42 is shiftable between a retreatposition at which the roller 44 is spaced away from the conveyor part 41and a hold position at which the roller 44 approaches the conveyor part41 so as to nip a tip end of a medicine bag 14 placed on the conveyorpart 41.

The discharge section 9 includes a medicine bag common transfer path 45and a medicine bag extraction tray 46. The medicine bag common transferpath 45 changes orientation of medicine bags 14 discharged horizontallyfrom each of the first medicine bag discharge path 36, the secondmedicine bag discharge path 37, the third medicine bag discharge path 38and the fourth medicine bag discharge path 39 and, then, transfers themedicine bags 14 downward. The medicine bag extraction tray 46 isprovided below the medicine bag common transfer paths 36, 37, 38 and 39,and stores medicine bags 14 transferred from the medicine bag commontransfer paths 36, 37, 38 and 39 in a state that the medicine bags 14are sorted for each patient by a sorting plate 47.

Next, description will be given of an operation of the medicine bagprinting apparatus configured as described above.

When an operator inputs prescription information to the medicine bagprinting apparatus or a host computer (not illustrated) transmitsprescription information to the medicine bag printing apparatus, themedicine bag printing apparatus selects a size of a medicine bag basedon a kind and a quantity of a medicine to be prepared, and designatesone of the medicine bag supply sections 2, 3, 4 and medicine bagcassettes 22 a, 22 b of the laser printer 8, for supplying medicine bagsof the selected size.

In the designated medicine bag supply section, e.g., the third medicinebag supply section 4, the medicine bag sheet 10 is unreeled from themedicine bag roll 11, passes through the medicine bag supply path 12 andis sealed and cut by the sealing/cutting device 13 at a predeterminedinterval; thus, medicine bags 14 are produced. Then, each of theproduced medicine bags 14 passes through one of the transfer paths viathe second sorting section 18, and is transferred to one of the inkjetprinters, e.g., the third inkjet printer 7 on standby. As illustrated inthe figure, the third inkjet printer 7 prints medicine informationincluding a name of a patient, a name of a medicine, timing of takingthe medicine, effects of the medicine, side-effects of the medicine, andthe like on the medicine bags 14 in accordance with the prescriptioninformation. The medicine bags 14 each subjected to the printing processpass through the third medicine bag discharge path 38, and reach thesorting plate 47 via the medicine bag common transfer path 45 of themedicine bag discharge section 9. The medicine bags 14 are sorted foreach patient by the sorting plate 47 and, then, are discharged onto themedicine bag extraction tray 46.

If the medicine bag printing apparatus designates the laser printer 8,one of the medicine bag cassettes 22 a and 22 b, housing medicine bagsof a required size, supplies medicine bags 14 to the printing part 23.As illustrated in the figure, the printing part 23 prints medicineinformation including a name of a patient, a name of a medicine, animage of the medicine, timing of taking the medicine, effects of themedicine, side-effects of the medicine, and the like on the medicinebags 14 in accordance with the prescription information. The medicinebags 14 each subjected to the printing process are placed on themedicine bag support pedestal 26 of the discharge tray 24. If onespecific patient needs a plurality of medicine bags 14, the medicinebags 14 are stacked on the discharge tray 24 until all of them aredischarged. Each medicine bag 14 is stacked on the discharge tray 24such that a tip end thereof protrudes from the medicine bag supportpedestal 26 and is supported by the conveyor part 42 of the holdingsection 40. After completion of the printing process performed on allmedicine bags 14 for one patient, the laser printer 8 outputs a printcompletion signal to the holding section 40. As a result, the pressingroller part 42 of the holding section 40 shifts to the hold positionbased on the print completion signal to hold the all medicine bags forone patient. Thus, the medicine bags 14 placed on the medicine bagsupport pedestal 26 pass through the fourth medicine bag discharge path39, and reach the sorting plate 47 via the medicine bag common transferpath 45 of the medicine bag discharge section 9. The medicine bags 14are sorted for each patient by the sorting plate 47 and, then, aredischarged onto the medicine bag extraction tray 46. Herein, themedicine bags 14 for one patient are discharged in a lump; therefore,there is no necessity to actuate the sorting plate 47.

In a case that the medicine bag cassettes 22 a and 22 b of the laserprinter 8 become empty of medicine bags 14, the operator flicks the lockrelease switch 30, pulls out the table 27 of the laser printer 8 fromthe apparatus main body 1 as illustrated in the figure, and turns thelaser printer 8 on the rotary stage 28 at 90° so as to face anattachment/detachment side of each of the medicine bag cassettes 22 aand 22 b. Thus, the operator can detach the medicine bag cassettes 22 aand 22 b from the laser printer 8 to thereby fill the medicine bagcassettes 22 a and 22 b with medicine bags 14.

In addition to the laser printer 8, similarly, each of the medicine bagsupply sections 2, 3 and 4 can be pulled out from the apparatus mainbody 1. Therefore, when one of the medicine bag supply sections 2, 3 and4 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 1, the laser printer 8 isprevented from being pulled out from the apparatus main body 1 in orderto prevent the apparatus main body 1 from being toppled over. Morespecifically, in the control device 35 illustrated in the figure, whenthe lock release switch 30 of the laser printer 8 is flicked, the sensor31 detects whether or not one of the medicine bag supply sections 2, 3and 4 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 1. If it is determinedherein that none of the medicine bag supply sections 2, 3 and 4 ispulled out from the apparatus main body 1, the locking device 29 of thelaser printer 8 is released. Thus, the laser printer 8 can be pulled outfrom the apparatus main body 1. On the other hand, if it is determinedherein that one of the medicine bag supply sections 2, 3 and 4 is pulledout from the apparatus main body 1, the locking device 29 of the laserprinter 8 is not released. Thus, the laser printer 8 can not be pulledout from the apparatus main body 1, so that the apparatus main body 1 isprevented from being toppled over.

1. A medicine bag printing apparatus configured by an apparatus mainbody comprising: a printing unit including a medicine bag cassetteattached thereto/detached therefrom, the medicine bag cassette housing aplurality of medicine bags and supplying the medicine bags one by one, aprinting part printing medicine information and an image of a medicineon the medicine bag supplied from the medicine bag cassette, and a traystoring the medicine bags each subjected to the printing process by theprinting part such that a tip end of each medicine bag protrudestherefrom; a holding section holding the tip end of the medicine bagplaced on the tray of the printing unit; and a carrying section carryingthe medicine bag, having the tip end held by the holding section, out ofthe printing unit.
 2. The medicine bag printing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said holding section operates based on a printcompletion signal indicative of completion of the printing processperformed on medicine bags for one patient by said printing part.
 3. Themedicine bag printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidprinting unit is horizontally pulled out from said apparatus main bodyin a direction perpendicular to a discharge direction of a medicine bag.4. The medicine bag printing apparatus according to claim 3, whereinsaid printing unit is pulled out from said apparatus main body and,then, turns such that the medicine bag cassette is attachedthereto/detached therefrom.
 5. The medicine bag printing apparatusaccording claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of medicine bagsupply units producing medicine bags different in size from each otherfrom medicine bag base paper wound around medicine bag rolls and, then,supplying the medicine bags thus produced; a plurality of transfersections transferring the medicine bags supplied from the medicine bagsupply units; a plurality of printers printing medicine information onthe medicine bags transferred by the transfer sections; and a pluralityof carrying sections carrying the medicine bags, subjected to theprinting process by the printers, out of the printers.
 6. The medicinebag printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of saidplurality of medicine bag supply units is horizontally pulled out fromsaid apparatus main body, and includes a locking device locking saidprinting unit so as to prevent said printing unit from being pulled outfrom said apparatus main body when one of the plurality of medicine bagsupply units is pulled out from the apparatus main body.
 7. The medicinebag printing apparatus according claim 2, further comprising: aplurality of medicine bag supply units producing medicine bags differentin size from each other from medicine bag base paper wound aroundmedicine bag rolls and, then, supplying the medicine bags thus produced;a plurality of transfer sections transferring the medicine bags suppliedfrom the medicine bag supply units; a plurality of printers printingmedicine information on the medicine bags transferred by the transfersections; and a plurality of carrying sections carrying the medicinebags, subjected to the printing process by the printers, out of theprinters.
 8. The medicine bag printing apparatus according claim 3,further comprising: a plurality of medicine bag supply units producingmedicine bags different in size from each other from medicine bag basepaper wound around medicine bag rolls and, then, supplying the medicinebags thus produced; a plurality of transfer sections transferring themedicine bags supplied from the medicine bag supply units; a pluralityof printers printing medicine information on the medicine bagstransferred by the transfer sections; and a plurality of carryingsections carrying the medicine bags, subjected to the printing processby the printers, out of the printers.
 9. The medicine bag printingapparatus according claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of medicinebag supply units producing medicine bags different in size from eachother from medicine bag base paper wound around medicine bag rolls and,then, supplying the medicine bags thus produced; a plurality of transfersections transferring the medicine bags supplied from the medicine bagsupply units; a plurality of printers printing medicine information onthe medicine bags transferred by the transfer sections; and a pluralityof carrying sections carrying the medicine bags, subjected to theprinting process by the printers, out of the printers.